The Postman (1997) and Wag The Dog (1997) | Two films. The same weekend. Very different reputations

Film Stories with Simon Brew

Simon Brew

Film History, Tv & Film

4.9 • 813 Ratings

🗓️ 16 March 2026

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

At the end of 1997, Kevin Costner's second film as director - The Postman - made its way into cinemas, at the end of a difficult year for Warner Bros. The $80m, three hour movie would be savaged by critics, and fail to find an audience - but there was quite the story behind the film, before and after. There's quite a story too to Wag The Dog, a movie that could fit into the schedules when a far more expensive project was hit by a delay. And the political satire that followed made headlines for unexpected reasons within months of its release. Stories of both are told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	What I've dedicated my life to is revenge.
0:04.7	A brand new drama based on the bestselling novel.
0:07.5	They think they're better than us.
0:08.5	Who do you think you are?
0:09.8	I'm going to prove to them that they're wrong.
0:11.5	She's punishing me.
0:13.0	You destroyed my family.
0:14.3	I will not rest until I've destroyed yours.
0:17.0	A woman of substance on Channel 4 starts tonight at 9.
0:20.7	Hello, this is Simon Brew.
0:22.8	I'm the founder of Film Stories magazine and a very warm welcome to the Film Stories podcast,
0:28.2	where I'm going to defend the honour in this episode of a much maligned film.
0:35.1	I have a feeling about you.
0:40.2	I know you'll do what's right.
0:43.7	Come with me.
0:45.8	And I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
0:49.1	And movies.
0:50.3	Movies that have stories.
0:52.0	That the story just sucks a man.
0:54.5	This is just the beginning.
0:57.1	We would be honored if you would join us.
1:03.8	Hello and a very warm welcome to film stories with Simon Brew.
	...

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